| Electronic commerce, or e-commerce, | | | | to business (B2B), business to consumer |
| refers to the use of the Internet at any | | | | (B2C), business to administration (B2A), |
| point during the buying and selling of | | | | business to employee (B2E) or customer |
| goods. The term is commonly used to | | | | to customer (C2C). These classifications |
| refer to transactions where an actual | | | | can be broken down into further |
| payment has been made online via a | | | | sub-groups. For example, a B2B activity |
| credit card. But e-commerce also | | | | could be a vertical e-marketplace that |
| involves other online activities such as | | | | offers goods or services to businesses |
| marketing, distribution and servicing of | | | | within a specific industry segment. |
| products over the Internet. Electronic | | | | Alternatively, it could be a horizontal |
| commerce often relies on technologies | | | | e-marketplace that offers services to |
| such as e-mail and enterprise resource | | | | businesses irrespective of industry |
| planning applications for transaction | | | | segment. |
| completion and order fulfillment. | | | | E-commerce continues to grow in |
| The term e-business is usually | | | | popularity and a large amount of |
| interchangeable with e-commerce. | | | | business is transacted online every |
| However, some definitions treat | | | | year. But it's worth noting that it also |
| Electronic commerce as a subset of | | | | presents many challenges for governments |
| e-business. In these cases, a clear | | | | and regulatory bodies, which can also |
| distinction is made between transactions | | | | affect your business. The United Kingdom |
| that involve the exchange of money | | | | has relatively clear Electronic commerce |
| online and those that don't. A | | | | definitions and laws. But with its |
| transaction where a payment is made | | | | decentralised and complicated tax |
| online is defined as e-commerce. And | | | | structure, the United States still has a |
| e-business is used to refer to all | | | | moratorium on new, multiple or |
| non-fiscal online transactions that | | | | discriminatory Internet taxes. In 2000, |
| facilitate and support the actual sale. | | | | an advisory commission on e-commerce in |
| Electronic commerce can involve | | | | the United States failed to reach a |
| commercial activity between different | | | | conclusive agreement on Electronic |
| interest groups. These could be business | | | | commerce taxation. |